A RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT, AT LAST!

Does it not seem that we should be preaching more of the second coming of Christ rather than less? It is possible that a people without the expectation of the second coming are a people without hope in this dismal world of injustice and political rancor? It seems to me best to teach clearly, powerfully, and often the truths of the second coming and Christ’s plans for this world. Those plans are so fantastic that one can hardly keep from talking about them constantly. Christ will build a world in which there will be no Mahmoud Ahmadinejads ruling rogue nations. And (praise the Lord) there will be no United Nations to showcase tyrants on a world stage.

In fact, Micah (4:1-5) establishes the fact that Christ’s governance will be one of peace that will spread across the entire world (3b). How else could it be when the Prince of Peace finally rules. Would the people of Israel, Lebanon, Darfur, Sri Lanka, Iraq, and Afghanistan like this kind of peace today? In Israel alone, income taxes are in the 50 percent range to support the government social programs, and in particular the military budget. The United States spends billions annually of our hard earned money in Iraq and Afghanistan. I confess to you that it would be nice not to have to pay it. And in the Millennial reign of Christ we will not need to pay. That ought to preach in any congregation. Even the liberals can say amen to it.

The Micah text makes it clear not only that this peace will be universal, but that implements of warfare will be changed into agricultural tools, and there will be no more need to train for warfare. This peace is the kind of world people long to experience. The earth’s resources will be used for good not destruction. Justice and righteousness will be rewarded not scorned. But this peace will not come by human achievement. It will not be drafted and enforced along the banks of the East River in NYC. It will be because of Christ’s presence and governance in Jerusalem.

One would think that the foregoing truths (earlier postings about a righteous government and this article) would be sufficient. But God sends an overflowing abundance from his treasures in glory. In addition to spiritual instruction, justice, and peace, the Messiah will also bring prosperity with his government. Just listen to the poetic imagery of the text in verse 4: But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken (NKJV). All mankind will dwell in prosperity. Everyone; Israel is first and foremost.

People sitting under their own vine and fig tree describes and abundance of goods and blessings. The pronoun his describes personal ownership. There will be no fear because the Lord has declared their security. Whether for the individual or the nation, the only way to prosperity and security is to submit to God. Man’s institutions designed to ensure peace (military) always come short of the goal.

The Department of Defense system, according to Dr. A. M. Zarem, Defense Department consultant and president of Electro- Optical Systems, Inc., is like a gigantic bowl of wet noodles. “Trying to get something done is like pushing on one end of any of the noodles. Nobody knows where the noodle is connected—where it goes in the mass—and what, if anything, will move.” Paul Lee Tan, 6600 Illustrations.

The Millennium reign of Christ will bring the kind of government mankind has long desired. Is it any wonder why the enemy of men’s souls and the enemy of God fights so hard to keep it from being preached? He would rather have theological confusion or better yet silence about the future reign of Christ. Isn’t it about time that we stopped hiding this truth? It makes sense to me for us to research the content of the truth and then proclaim it with all the authority of the Word of God. There really is a righteous government coming and we will not create it through good lawmakers and good laws. Christ will create it through his presence and his government on the throne of David.

Howard L. Wilburn